The Essential Elements of Advocacy
School is about to begin. Being an advocate for your child is one of your many responsibilities. A successful advocate understands the importance of being able to communicate effectively with your child’s teacher and school district and the importance of working collaboratively to solve problems.
Create relationships with school staff and others who can help you get the help and services your child needs to succeed. Maintain a good working relationship with the school and communicate ideas in ways that allow others to understand them.
As a foster parent, you have a right to a copy of the child’s records. You are the education decision maker unless the court or state has appointed someone else.
Be conscious of:
HOW you are communicating as much as WHAT you are communicating.
- Communicate to the teacher or district that you are an interested party and want to work together on issues.
- Be aware of your tone of voice.
- Watch your body language.
- Ask questions.
- Get all the facts.
- Understand and be able to respond to the teacher or district’s perspective.
It is important to keep and organize your child’s records.
Having all the pertinent information about your child’s education history will help you advocate for supports and services.
- Keep everything you receive from school and about education.
- Organize items in a separate education file.
- Put things in writing.
- Keep a copy everything you send.
- Keep a log of phone calls and meetings.
What needs to be in this file?
Report cards, work samples, education history, evaluations, requests for services and support, all special education records, IEP and any discipline records. Other relevant information may also be included.
An advocate is a very challenging responsibility. You don’t have to try to do it alone. Get help if you need it. Be persistent in your search for resources. Remember that the more support and resources that are available to a student, the more likely that he or she will succeed.
The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition will provide assistance to foster and adoptive parents and other professionals working with foster children in advocating for education supports and services.
Other resources: